Carpool Lanes, Direct Access Ramp Now Open

More than ten miles of new carpool lanes and two Direct Access Ramps (DARs) have opened along the I-805 corridor. These improvements are part of the larger plan to create a 28-mile Express Lanes facility in the median of I-805 between SR 905 and I-5. The work is part of two projects: the I-805 HOV/Carroll Canyon Road Extension Project and the I-805 South Express Lanes Project.

Once completed, the I-805 Express Lanes project will create a 28-mile Express Lanes facility in the median of I-805 between SR 905 and I-5.

Overview

I-805 is one of the main backbones of mobility in the urban core of the San Diego region. It is a key north-south corridor that traverses the most heavily populated portion of the region. Average daily traffic (ADT) on I-805 ranges from 160,000 to 261,000 vehicles, with daily congestion lasting between two and four hours. ADT is expected to exceed 330,000 vehicles in 2030, with congestion lasting more than six hours.

Elements of the I-805 Express Lanes project include:

Express Lanes in the median area

Direct access ramps for buses and other high-occupancy vehicles

Direct freeway-to-freeway HOV connectors

Retaining walls to minimize physical impacts to adjacent communities

Sound walls to reduce noise impacts

Project Functions

The I-805 Express/Carpool Lanes project will offer a premium level of service to transit users, ridesharers, and paying solo commuters during rush hours. The South Bay Rapid system will operate in the Express/Carpool Lanes, connecting South Bay and East County cities to major regional employment centers in downtown San Diego and Sorrento Valley.

The I-805 Corridor

I-805 serves some of the most heavily-populated communities and key employment centers in the region. It is also a critical corridor for international traffic – it begins less than one mile from the U.S.-Mexico border. I-805 provides access to South Bay cities, San Diego’s urban core, Mission Valley, Sorrento Valley, and the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station. It also connects to major east-west routes providing access to downtown San Diego and East County cities.